Manawatū Māori wards vote a resounding 'no'

Tuesday, 15 May 2018

Separate Māori representation on the Manawatū District Council has been ruled out by voters.

Manawatū District voters have come out more than three-to-one in opposition to creating separate Māori wards.

Results from a binding poll have come in on Tuesday afternoon, with 7062 voting against, and 2038 in favour.

Some 43 per cent of electors cast a vote, with 18 votes counted as blank and one 'informal'.

Councillor Andrew Quarrie, who helped drive a petition to take the issue to a poll, said the result was a win for the community.

* Māori ward supporters prepare to defend decisions

* Māori ward petition demands a poll in Palmerston North**

The council in November voted 6-4 in favour of having one or more Māori wards at the next local government elections in 2019, although the decision was challenged earlier this year when more than 5 per cent of voters demanded a poll.

The decision was met with praise from some councillors at the time, who said it would enable the council to uphold its Treaty of Waitangi obligations, but drew criticism from others, who said it was unnecessary.

Quarrie wasn't surprised by the result, which he said was a vote of no-confidence in Local Government New Zealand, the Manawatū District Council and the direction it was headed.

'Council should focus on its core responsibilities and leave social engineering alone,' he said.

'If Māori wish to be on council I welcome them to stand as everyone else does, and welcome their contribution.'

Quarrie said Māori wards would have created a division and, while both sides wanted the best outcomes for Māori, they had different ways of going about it.

Councillors were elected to represent the interests of the entire district, not any one group, he said, and the council had shown willingness to consult and co-operate with iwi, so a Māori ward was unnecessary.

Pro-ward councillor Hilary Humphrey said Māori wards aligned with the principles established by the Waitangi Tribunal – those of partnership, protection and participation.

She respected the democratic process, but remained 'forever an optimist' there would one day be greater diversity around the council table.

Palmerston North's poll on the same issue closes at noon on Saturday. Results are expected by 7.30pm.